Req 4 — Contributions to America
America’s greatest achievements are not the work of one group — they are the combined contributions of people from every background imaginable. This requirement asks you to research and share the stories of three individuals who made a real difference, each from a different racial, ethnic, or religious background.
How to Choose Your Three People
You have a lot of freedom here. Your three people can come from any time period, any field, and any part of the country. The key rule is that each person must be from a different racial, ethnic, or religious background.
Think broadly. “Contributions to our country” does not just mean presidents and generals. It includes scientists, artists, activists, inventors, educators, entrepreneurs, athletes, writers, and everyday people who changed their communities.
Where to Look
Here are some starting points for your research:
Science and technology:
- Who invented or discovered something that changed American life?
- Think about medicine, agriculture, engineering, computing, space exploration
Arts and culture:
- Who created music, literature, film, or art that defined an era?
- Think about writers, musicians, filmmakers, visual artists, architects
Civil rights and social change:
- Who fought for justice, equality, or the rights of others?
- Think about activists, lawyers, organizers, religious leaders
Government and military:
- Who served the country through leadership, diplomacy, or military service?
- Think about elected officials, diplomats, service members, judges
Business and innovation:
- Who built companies, industries, or economic opportunities?
- Think about entrepreneurs, labor organizers, agricultural innovators
Examples to Inspire You
These examples are here to spark your thinking — not to be your answers. Use them as a starting point, then find your own people.
Science: Chien-Shiung Wu, a Chinese American physicist, designed an experiment that disproved a fundamental law of physics (the conservation of parity) in 1957. Her work reshaped our understanding of the universe, yet she was overlooked for the Nobel Prize that her male colleagues received.
Arts: Langston Hughes, an African American poet and writer, became one of the defining voices of the Harlem Renaissance. His poems and stories captured the beauty, struggle, and resilience of Black life in America and influenced generations of writers.
Civil rights: Fred Korematsu, a Japanese American civil rights activist, defied the forced internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. He took his case to the Supreme Court, and although he lost in 1944, his conviction was overturned decades later. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1998.
Innovation: Nikola Tesla, a Serbian Orthodox Christian immigrant from Croatia, invented the alternating current (AC) electrical system that powers virtually every home and business in America today. His work made modern electricity possible.
What to Include in Your Presentation
For each person, cover these points:
Contribution Profile
Cover these for each of your three people
- The person’s name and background (racial, ethnic, or religious identity)
- What they contributed — be specific about what they did or created
- Why it mattered — how did this contribution change America or affect other people?
- What obstacles they faced — many contributors had to overcome prejudice, poverty, or other barriers
- What you found most interesting or inspiring about their story
Going Beyond the Famous Names
One of the most powerful things you can do for this requirement is to find someone local. Is there a person from your own community — past or present — who made a significant contribution from a different cultural background? A local hero’s story can be even more meaningful than a famous figure’s because it shows that contributions to America happen everywhere, not just in history books.
Ask your librarian, check your local historical society, or talk to longtime residents. You might be amazed at what you find.
You have now explored how individuals from different backgrounds have shaped this country. The final requirement asks you to take everything you have learned and share it with others.